Real Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas believes he is reaping the rewards of hard work after being praised for his performance against Sevilla on Sunday.
The Costa Rica international made four saves, one of which denied Sevilla an equaliser when he kept out Kevin Gameiro's penalty, to help his side clinch a 4-0 win.
It was his third penalty saved out of four with Madrid this season.
Navas spoke before boarding a plane in Madrid to join his national team for the two upcoming 2018 World Cup qualifiers against Jamaica, saying: "I'm well and very calm.
"I'm happy for the confidence that the coaching staff is giving me this year.
"I have worked hard to prove that I can play at [Real] Madrid."
The 29-year-old Navas nearly left Los Blancos, whom he had joined on a six-year contract from Levante in 2014, last summer.
The South American was included in a deal that was to bring Manchester United's David De Gea to Madrid and take Navas to Old Trafford but the move was not completed in time.
Navas had been an understudy to Iker Casillas last season at Real but after the Spain goalkeeper moved to Porto, the Costa Rican was made the first-choice goalkeeper.
Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane could not be happier with Navas' achievements.
"Keylor is part of the team and we need him. I am happy with his performance and it is important to have a goalkeeper like Keylor," Zidane said after Sunday's game
Spanish newspaper Marca lavished praise on Navas, the subject of the publication's front page on Monday with the headline: "Three tigers and a panther" in reference to Madrid's attacking trio Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema and Navas.
Another article in Marca highlighted the importance of the goalkeeper for the team and had the headline "Keylord Navas."
AS also led with Real Madrid's victory over Sevilla and had an article that said "the formula is BBC [Bale, Benzema and Cristiano] plus Keylor."
Navas and Madrid are looking forward to the make-or-break part of their season.
The club travel to the Camp Nou to face La Liga leaders Barcelona after the international break, looking to avenge last November's 4-0 defeat at the Bernabeu.
"The two teams arrive to the game at a great level," Navas said.
"We both want to win but we have to worry about doing our jobs well and continuing to grow because we have important games in the Champions League and this game could help us to gain confidence and get there with a lot of hunger."
After the game against Barca on April 2, Madrid visit Wolfsburg four days later for the first leg of their Champions League quarterfinal tie.
Navas said: "It is going to be complicated, every game is complicated.
"You cannot underestimate any rival. If [Wolfsburg] are in the quarterfinals, it is for a reason."